Sober Angel

Mini Geo

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:10:15 +0000

Every time my significant other engages in an angry, violent outburst, I instinctively reach for what I know how to do best … I want to run from the situation. My sponsor told me, “oh, you are doing a Mini-Geo every time you leave because you feel uncomfortable”. “Doing a GEO” is when an Alcoholic moves from one town/city/state to another, in the hopes that the pain they were feeling would disappear when they arrived at a new location … a fresh start so to speak. Unfortunately, it never works that way. The same problems, same habits follow, and the Alcoholic is forced to face them.

Whenever we are forced to face life on life’s terms, we want to deny the problem exists and stick our head in the sand. My sponsor says, he likes to make a phone call and have a truck deliver a pile a sand, so he can stick his head in it. But, oh wait, there is no phone number, no truck, and no pile of sand, so we are forced to address the problems that are in front of us.

Recovered or Not Recovered

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:03:19 +0000

The people in the fellowship of AA have recovered. They are not cured by any means, but they have recovered from a seemingly hopeless situation.

The word “Recover” is all over the first 164 pages.

The definition of Recovery is, “to regain strength, composure, balance, or the like, of oneself.”

Nonviolent Communication

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:36:10 +0000

When some sobriety has finally arrived, some AA’s grab the only drug they have left in the bag … Anger. Try this instead…

The powers that be, and the ones who share his perspective. Some cultures felt superior to others, dating back 8000 years. Are they good are bad people – is based on a domination society, reward and punishment – based on making judgements of them. The hunter/gatherer societies did not have violence in their society. How do we make sure everyones need are met – is the basis of non-violent communication. When someone is violent – they are saying their needs aren’t being met. Translate the anger into a unmet need. Then find a strategy to get those needs met. What needs are not being met – if you have to perceive them through their analysis.

“Connect at the level of Human Needs”.

Start by asking, “How do I find out what it is you need, when you start to get angry”"?

We are not her to figure it out. We are here to hear the answers, we have to ask … for the answers.

Then, define what peace & harmony mean to each other, ask for the needs to get each other there.

Nonviolent Communication

Hangin in there

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:38:53 +0000

I was asked how I was doing. I wasn’t doing that good, so I said “I’m hanging in there”. Then the smart guy who I call my sponsor said “Then why do you let go”. Because the reality is, I Can’t, God Can, so you might as well let him. My Ego manufactures bullshit, and then my brain tells me I need to measure up to the bullshit. I have to Pause, and ask God for clarity.

We speak in codes

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 23:52:20 +0000

Whether you are 24 hours new, 30 days new or several years old in the program, if you’ve been around the rooms you know the codes. We speak them often and they know no geographic boundaries – “90-in-90”, “The Promises”, “The Steps”, “Inventory”, “Dropping a 5th”, “Friend of Bill W.”, “One day at a time”…

The only way to learn the codes is to “become a part of” by attending, getting a sponsor and working the steps rigorously.

The Infinite Step

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:28:40 +0000

Step 12

Step twelve states “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs”. It doesn’t say as a result of these steps, we were cured. Is anyone cured from the human condition? It says carry the message, and practice these principles in all our affairs… for the rest of our life. It isn’t final and bounded, we must practice these 12 steps, or the maintenance steps 10, 11, 12 on a daily basis.

Life Shows Up

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:21:30 +0000

Words can’t describe the horror. My wife and I had our first baby in sobriety three days ago. We couldn’t wait to tell our friends. When we returned home, I saw an email from a friend … our dearest friends had been murdered. We both fell to the floor in heart wrenching tears. We had just experienced so much joy, and now so much tragedy. Life shows up and it isn’t always going to be sweet. We celebrate the new joy God has brought, but also the terrific tragedy that has just happened. I’m horrified and distraught. I know that God is there and that everything happens for a reason, but I can’t think of any reason why this should have happened. God bless… ~Anonymous

Two Doves

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:46:42 +0000

My great epiphany didn’t happen right away, but rather over a series of events occurring in several years. I do remember after the long journey of about 2 years, leaving my apartment in the morning for work. I lived on the second floor of a four story complex, and the front doors facing inward to the garden area where there were many trees. It was always really dark in there, the trees towered up to the fourth floor. I never saw any birds or animals down where I lived, it was dark and creepy. Well, that morning, right in front of my door when I stepped out, were two doves sitting on a naked branch…staring at me. I paused, walked up to them to say hi, and they didn’t move at all, just kept staring at me. When I returned later that day, they were gone. That is when I knew.

God wears a Blue Wetsuit

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:26:50 +0000

I never understood why my wife never left me during my drinking years. After she was diagnosed with cancer and died 5 months later, I knew there must be a reason because someone needed to watch after our three children. I never really believed in God, until one day, I was scuba diving off the coast of Monterey, CA. I was alone, and shot a fish into a hole that I couldn’t get it out of. I was low on air, because I felt my breathes having to pull the air out of the scuba tanks, and I was pretty far down. I said “God, if you exist, get me out of this one”. Then a guy in a blue wetsuit swam up, reached around, pulled the fish out, gently placed it into my bag. As he swam off, I went to the surface as the air was running out. I waited on that beach for 2 hours, and never saw anyone get out of the water. I wanted to thank the guy… he never appeared. Ever since then, I believe in God, and I believe he wears a blue wetsuit. ~Anonymous